As Tolkien fandom enjoys a period of riches, with Prime Video’sThe Rings of Power series, Kenji Kamiyama’s The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim coming out in just a few weeks, and Andy Serkis heading back to Middle-earth, there are also many fabulous new collectibles coming on to the market. Here at TORn we’re always delighted to showcase what our fellow fans of the Professor are creating. (Look out for our Gift Guide, coming next week!)
Recently we had the great pleasure of getting to know the folks behind Syzygy Forge. Their tag line is ‘Forging Superior Collectibles’ – and that they certainly do! Unusually, though, these collectibles contain alcohol… The folks at Syzygy Forge create spirits in beautiful bottles. The first of their Middle-earth collection, available to order now, is the gorgeous Green Dragon Wheated Whisky.
About Syzygy Forge, in their own words:
Syzygy Forge is a leading collectible company specializing in premium licensed merchandise. With a passion for storytelling and craftsmanship, Syzygy Forge creates unique products known for innovative and accurate design. The team strives to push the boundaries of creativity while honoring the rich legacies of iconic films, video games, and more.
A bit about Jordan Costner:
Jordan Costner entered the licensed collectible industry in 2019 and has since collaborated with major film and video game companies, delivering highly successful products that resonate with fans. Known for his attention to detail, Jordan takes pride in creating items that authentically represent the worlds they are based on.
In 2023, Jordan founded Syzygy Forge and is eagerly anticipating the launch of products inspired by his all-time favorite films, The Lord of the Rings.
“Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor and the other wizards at Weta Workshop were my childhood heroes,” says Jordan. “Growing up, I watched the bonus content on the extended editions countless times. What they achieve in the creation of their films is pure magic—and the biggest inspiration for what I do today.”
The Lord of the Rings™ The Green Dragon™ Wheated Whiskey
Step into the world of Middle-earth with The Green Dragon Wheated Whiskey, a meticulously crafted spirit inspired by the legendary inn of the Shire. This officially licensed special edition whiskey brings the warmth and charm of The Green Dragon to your glass.
Aged to perfection over four years, this wheated whiskey is artfully blended with the finest grains to create a smooth, rich, and full-bodied character. It also delivers a delicate balance of sweetness and spice, reminiscent of the lively gatherings at The Green Dragon. Every sip transports you to a cozy evening by the fire, surrounded by good friends and tales of adventure.
These carefully recreated details evoke the craftsmanship of the Shire, making The Green Dragon Wheated Whiskey not just a drink, but a collectible piece of Middle-earth lore.
Whether you’re a connoisseur of fine spirits or a devoted fan of the films, The Green Dragon Wheated Whiskey offers a unique opportunity to celebrate the brave and true. Pour a glass, raise a toast, and embark on your own unexpected journey with every sip.
Look out for Syzygy’s next collectible spirit, which will come in a bottle depicting the epic duel between Gandalf and the Balrog. Can’t wait for that one!
New York Comic Con was a wonderful place to be for Tolkien fans! Other than the excellent coverage by staffer greendragon who interviewed several of the creatives behind the upcoming The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (look out for the videos on TORn’s YouTube and socials), Kili from Happy Hobbit got to chat with some amazing Tolkien-inspired artists on the showroom floor. You can hear their stories below and be sure to check out the links to their amazing creations! Watch the episode.
Happy Hobbit has brought Middle-earth to its viewers’ daily lives since 2012! Learn hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 10+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. 🌻 New episodes debut every other Saturday, so be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit so that you don’t miss out!
Get even more slow-living hobbit content by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram,Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy.
Welcome to The Great Hall of Poets, our poetry feature showcasing the talent of Middle-earth fans. So come and join us by the hearth, and enjoy!
If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.
The Steward and the White Lady
by: Cassie Hughes
She lay bereft of all she loved and wished her life was done, That King had never called her back from limbo’s darkened home, Within these hallowed healing halls her heart felt caged anew, What now for maid without a shield? No cause to cleave unto?
In waking dreams she wandered there a ghost in living form, Her hopes and dreams dispersed as dust, her mind encased in storm, ‘Twas thus he first did spy her there caught up in moonlights glow And from that moment lost his heart to Rohan’s greatest jewel.
Fair Eowyn he then pursued though she desired naught But finding honour within death, this goal, her only thought, With inner strength he persevered and piece by piece did steal Away despair and hopelessness, her zest for life reveal.
At last the scales fell from her eyes, she finally perceived, The wise and steadfast prince of men to whom her heart had cleaved, The Steward and the Lady found at last their just reward, A strong, enduring love in which to live in light restored.
~~ * ~~
I’ve included this following poem to commemorate Remembrance Day. It’s one I wrote as part of my Literature degree in memory of my Grandfather. Lest We Forget
Grandad Speaks
by: Kelvarhin
They called me Jack, Though my mates Called me Snowy.
A hazel-eyed beauty, From London’s east-end, Became my life’s love. Two adored daughters, Completed our home.
War intervened, To the R.A.F. I soared. Not to drop bombs, Or dogfight in the sky, Dinghy Drop rescues Were my choice to fly.
The fates made their call, Rescuers missing, Lost over North Sea. Three simple words, All that were shared.
Missing in action.
No body to mourn, No grave to cry on. A telegraphed epitaph, My Loves only memorial.
~~ * ~~
If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net. One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.
Have you always wanted to delight hobbit passerby with a beautiful springtime flower display but don’t feel confident in your green thumb? Then you’re in luck! Kili is here to show you just how easy it is to plant and grow bulbs! Watch the new episode and read her tips below.
Bulb planting tips:
Plant bulbs in the autumn so that they have time to chill over winter.
Choose a spot with partial to full sun
Bulbs need soil that drains well (so they don’t turn to mush after prolonged exposure to moisture), so amend clay soil with perlite or other substances to aid drainage
As a general rule, dig a hole twice as deep as the bulb is tall.
Plant bulbs in the autumn so that they have time to chill over winter.
After the flowers have finished, don’t prune them off! Allow the plant to continue its lifecycle. The leaves will continue to create and store energy that the bulb will use the following spring! The will die away on their own in mid-to-late summer.
Happy Hobbit has brought Middle-earth to its viewers’ daily lives since 2012! Learn more hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 10+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. 🌻 New episodes debut every other Saturday, so be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit so that you don’t miss out!
Get even more slow-living hobbit content by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram,Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy
Welcome to The Great Hall of Poets, our poetry feature showcasing the talent of Middle-earth fans. So come and join us by the hearth, and enjoy!
If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.
“The Sea Calls us Home”
By: Caroline Flynn
The wind is cold: soon the last leaf shall fall And all shall be covered by winter’s pall. In the restless breeze I hear a call. The Sea calls us home.
Upon this Middle-earth we have endured storm and gale, But now our long years begin to fade and fail, Upon the grey ships we must set sail. For the Sea calls us home.
O land we have loved through the lengthening years, Enriched by our labor, watered by our tears, Why now are you grown so cold and drear? Why does the Sea call us home?
This sorrow of our hearts is not feigned For in this land we have lived and reigned And with our blood is this land stained. But the Sea calls us home.
The Sea! Whose waters contain the memory of old, The eternal Music it most closely holds Our griefs and triumphs its voice enfolds. Thus the Sea calls us home.
To the straight road of the West we now turn, To the undying West for which our hearts now yearn Where the Evening Star begins to burn. For the Sea calls us home.
~~ * ~~
Numenor’s Lament
By: L. May
Life’s many treasures
Drowned in sea spray.
Waves cover memories,
Flooding, razing,
All that was great.
Floating bodies swirl,
Like wave-kissed pebbles,
Tumbling and spinning.
Water foams over,
In unending motion,
Advancing and retreating,
With relentless ruin,
Till flotsam drifts,
Upon restless waves.
Memory fades,
Born out to sea,
Drawn down into
Ulmo’s cold, dark realm.
~~ * ~~
If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net. One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.
Every gardener, homesteader, and hobbit hobbyist knows how frustrating it is to lose a crop to marauding birds, but did you know that you can still use the damaged fruit? Join Kili and her fearless warg Mischief (or Missy) to learn how to salvage bird-pecked plums to make a delicious sweet and savory sauce perfect for any hobbit to bring to Bree and trade with a Dwarf… that is, if you have any left! 😋 Watch the new episode here and check out the recipe below!
Sweet & Savory Plum Sauce
Ingredients:
2 pounds plums, pitted and chopped
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons freshly grated ginger
2+ garlic cloves (I think I used 7)
1 star anise (optional – I didn’t have one, so I excluded it in the above video)
Instructions:
Prepare your plums by washing and inspecting them, chopping them up, and removing the pits and any yucky bits. You can give those to your Sauron-excuse me-worm bin, or compost.
Combine the plums, vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and star anise in a large nonreactive pot, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, 20 to 25 minutes. Fish out the star anise (if using) and discard. Purée the sauce with a stick immersion blender if your warg bounder allows. You could also use a regular blender or food processor once the sauce has cooled a bit.
Ladle into bowls, jars, or bags. Cool, cover, and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks. Note: I set aside the sauce I thought we would use that meal, then portioned the rest into freezer-safe bags, labeled them, and placed them in the freezer for future deliciousness.
Alternatively, you can use the boiling-water method for canning. Ladle into clean, hot 4-ounce or half-pint canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace. Release trapped air. Wipe the rims clean; center lids on the jars and screw on jar bands. Process for 10 minutes. Turn off heat, remove canner lid, and let jars rest in the water for 5 minutes. Remove jars and set aside for 24 hours. Check seals, then store in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.
Modified from a recipe by Caroline Russock
Happy Hobbit has brought Middle-earth to its viewers’ daily lives since 2012! Learn more hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 10+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. 🌻 New episodes debut every other Saturday, so be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit so that you don’t miss out!
Get even more slow-living hobbit content by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram,Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy.
